Heat system for killing pests

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pest elimination including all life stages of bed bugs. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pests.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No.61/454,255 filed Mar. 18, 2011, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pestelimination. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, andmethods of heat treatment to target and kill pests such as arthropods,rats, and mice. The present disclosure is especially suited for killingall life stages of bed bugs.

BACKGROUND

Some methods of pest treatment require discarding suspected infestedarticles. These items can be expensive to replace, especially in thecase of large objects like furniture, mattresses, and box springs. Somemethods of pest treatment exclusively rely on pesticides, which may berestricted or prohibited on certain items, particularly items thatcontact people. Finally, some methods of pest treatment use heat but candamage objects, create cold spots that provide a harborage for pests,require large amounts of heat, or are energy inefficient, for example inthe case of heat treatments that heat entire rooms or buildings.

It is against this background that the present disclosure is made.

SUMMARY

Surprisingly, it has been found that an infested article or suspectedarticle can be treated by using high heat temperatures and withoutdamaging the article itself.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a method of treating anarticle suspected of being infested. In the method, an article is placedinside of an enclosure, the enclosure is sealed, and the temperatureinside of the enclosure is ramped up at a rate of from about 10 to about15 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, or 1 degree Fahrenheit every sixminutes, until a temperature of at least 115° F. is reached. Once 115°F. is reached, the temperature is held for at least four hours.Thereafter, in some embodiments, the temperature may be slowly decreasedat a rate of about 10 to about 15 degrees an hour, or one degree everysix minutes, until the original starting temperature (which may be roomtemperature) is reached.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a method of automaticallyadjusting the temperature inside of a sealed enclosure in order to treatan article. In this method, a flexible, inflatable enclosure and heatingsystem are provided. The heating system has a heater. The heating systemalso has at least one thermocouple electrically connected to the heaterand located inside of the inflated enclosure. The thermocouple measuresthe actual air temperature inside of the enclosure (T_(actual)). Theheating system also includes a programmable logic controllerelectrically connected to the heater and the thermocouple and programmedwith a predetermined temperature ramp rate controlled by a set pointtemperature (T_(setpoint)) and a target temperature (T_(target)). Theprogrammable logic controller increases the temperature inside of theenclosure by increasing the T_(setpoint) one degree every six minutesuntil T_(target) is reached, comparing the T_(actual) to theT_(setpoint), and adjusting the heater in response to the differencebetween T_(actual) and T_(setpoint). In some embodiments, theprogrammable logic controller also controls the decrease in temperature.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a flexible and inflatableenclosure for treating an article suspected of being infested with anarthropod or other pest. The enclosure has a floor, a ceiling, and atleast one wall, where at least part of the ceiling or the wall can bepartially removed to allow for the selected article to be placed insideof the enclosure.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a treatment system. Thesystem includes a flexible and inflatable enclosure having a floor, aceiling, and at least one wall, where at least part of the ceiling orwall can be at least partially removed to allow for the selected articleto be placed inside of the enclosure. The system also includes a heatingsystem with a first heater, a thermocouple electrically connected to theheater and configured to be located inside of the inflated enclosure,and a programmable logic controller electrically connected to the firstheater and the thermocouple. In some embodiments, the system can alsoinclude a fan designed to be used inside of the inflated enclosure, andan external support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary enclosure and heating system.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of an exemplary enclosure and heating system.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an exemplary enclosure and heating system.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic of an exemplary enclosure and heating system.

FIG. 5 shows the exterior of a heater.

FIG. 6 shows the interior of a heater.

FIG. 7 shows temperature data from a hotel room heat test.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show bed bug adult and egg mortality at varioustemperatures.

FIG. 9 shows temperature data from a heated enclosure with a mattress init.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of an exemplary temperature control program forthe programmable logic controller.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features arenot drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize certain features relevantto the present disclosure. Reference characters denote like featuresthroughout the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to articles,systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pestsincluding all life stages of bed bugs. Surprisingly, it has been foundthat gradually increasing the temperature inside of an enclosure allowsfor heat treatment of articles that are believed to be infested withpests without adversely affecting the article. In the past, thesearticles may have been discarded instead of treated in part becausetheir size and internal spaces did not lend them to be effectivelytreated with pesticides, traditional heat treatments can damage thearticle, and label restrictions on pesticides did not allow fortreatment of items that contact humans on a regular basis. Exemplaryarticles include mattresses, box springs, and furniture, although anyarticle would benefit from the disclosed methods, articles, and systems.Articles, systems, and methods disclosed herein are effective ateliminating pests including 100% of bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults.

The Enclosure and Treatment System

In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a flexible andinflatable enclosure. Using a flexible and inflatable enclosure allowsthe enclosure to be easily set up and taken down from one treatment siteto the next. The enclosure, when inflated, can take on a variety ofshapes including a sphere, a cylinder, a cube, and a box. A cube and abox are preferred shapes because they are practical and easy tomanufacture. A sphere with a flat bottom is also a preferred shapebecause it circulates air uniformly throughout the interior whichminimizes cold spots. While an inflatable enclosure is disclosed, it isunderstood that other enclosures could be used such as a flexibleenclosure with an internal or external frame to hold the enclosure up.In some embodiments, the enclosure does not need to be inflatable orflexible. In these embodiments, the enclosure may be rigid. The rigidenclosure may also be foldable or collapsible. Exemplary rigidenclosures could include pre-formed rigid panels that are assembled intothe final enclosure, foldable panels that can be assembled into thefinal enclosure, or expandable panels that can be assembled into thefinal enclosure. The rigid enclosure may optionally be insulated.

An exemplary enclosure is shown in FIG. 1. Alternative enclosures areshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Referring now to FIG. 1, if the enclosureforms a cube or a box, then the enclosure 10 includes a floor 12, aceiling 14, and four walls 16, 18, 20, and 22. While four walls areshown in FIG. 1, it understood that shapes with one wall, or othercombination of walls, could be used (as in the case of a sphere orcylinder). Note that the wall does not need to be flat. In order tofacilitate getting large objects in and out of the enclosure, one wall18 and the ceiling 14 are preferably at least partially removable. Insome embodiments, the one wall 18 and the ceiling 14 can be connected toeach other, and the ceiling can be connected to the rest of theenclosure on one side (near wall 22 for example), so that the ceilingand the wall together form a large flap that comes over the top and downone side of the enclosure. This “flap” can be connected to the rest ofthe enclosure, for example by using a zipper 24. In other words, theenclosure can be opened by unzipping one wall and the ceiling, andpeeling back the wall and ceiling to allow for an article to be placedinside of the enclosure, and then the ceiling and the wall can be placedback into position and zipped up to seal the enclosure. In someembodiments, the enclosure includes a hook and loop sealing system thatgoes over the zipper to further insulate the interior of the enclosure.In some embodiments, the enclosure may also include a hook and loopsealing system on the exterior of each window so as to minimize any heatloss when the window is not being used.

In some embodiments, the enclosure includes an external supportstructure, skeleton, or frame 26. While such a structure, skeleton, orframe may be unnecessary in order for the enclosure to be able toinflate and stand on its own, it has been found that a structure,skeleton, or frame aids in preventing the formation of cold spots on theinside of the enclosure. If part of the enclosure collapses or a cornergets pinched while the enclosure is inflated, then the hot air may notcirculate to that portion of the enclosure. If the temperature of thatspot does not rise to 115° F. and remain there for the designated periodof time, that spot may become a harborage for pests. If pests surviveinside the enclosure, then the enclosure can actually become a source ofcontamination when the enclosure is taken down and transported to thenext location. In some embodiments, the structure is a plurality of barslocated on the corners of the enclosure. In some embodiments, thestructure is a scaffolding or frame that attaches to the bottom, sides,and top of the enclosure.

In some embodiments, the enclosure is made of insulated material thatmakes the enclosure energy efficient. An example of insulated materialis the Norpac R2 and Norpac M3 Insulation, commercially available fromNorpac LLC (Rogers, Minn.), which may be used together as a combinationNorpac R2/M3 material from Norpac LLC and can also be used together withThinsulate™ Insulation FR from 3M (St. Paul, Minn.). Other types ofinsulation that might be suitable include Thermal-Wrap® nuclear-gradeblanket insulation (Transco Products), HeatShield products (Heatshield),heat blankets (Heatcon), swimming pool thermal covers, outdoor plantcovers, Kevlar tarps, polystyrene, Thinsulate, insulated canvas, vinyl,space blankets, Nomex, and Thermarest materials. In some embodiments,the material selected has an R-value, which is a measure of thermalresistance, of about 0.5, about 0.8, about 1, about 1.4, about 2, about3, about 4, at least 0.5, at least 0.8, at least 1, at least 1.4, atleast 2, at least 3, or at least 4. A person skilled in the art willunderstand that achieving the desired temperatures is a combination oftemperature, insulation, time and energy variables. Increasing theinsulation may mean that the energy going into the system can bereduced. Likewise, decreasing the insulation may mean that the energygoing into the system needs to be increased. The insulation material canbe modified depending on whether the enclosure is designed to be reusedor a one-time use enclosure. In some embodiments, the enclosure is madefrom flame retardant material. In some embodiments, the enclosure ismade from a material that does not absorb pesticides and can be cleanedeasily. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a layer of canvas,vinyl, or other thick, durable material on the floor that is designed toprotect the floor from the articles that are moved in and out of theenclosure. In some embodiments, the interior of the enclosure is made ofa light colored material. Using a light colored material allows users oroperators to visually inspect the inside for pests. In some embodiments,the enclosure is made from material that is configured for a one-timeuse that is disposed of after that use. In other embodiments, theenclosure is made from material that is configured to be reused.

In some embodiments, the enclosure has one or more windows 28 located inat least one wall. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a windowon each wall. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes an inlet hole30 and an outlet hole 32. When the enclosure is connected to a heatingsystem, the duct 34 bringing air from the heater is placed in the inlethole 30 and the duct 36 removing air from the enclosure is placed in theoutlet hole 32. The enclosure can also include an optional thermocouple52 and thermocouple securing device 54 located in the cold spot of theenclosure. The location of the cold spot varies depending on the heaterlocation and article setup. For example, when the heater is in a cornerof a cube, then the cold spot is usually in the corner that isdiagonally opposite the heater. When the heater is placed in the middleof a wall of a cube or rectangle, then the cold spot may be in bothcorners of the opposite wall. Further, the articles that are located inthe enclosure can create cold spots. For example, if bed linens arepiled in a corner without airflow under or around it, a cold spot canform underneath the linens. By placing a thermocouple 52 in the coldspot, the operator can ensure that the temperature of the cold spotreaches 115° F. and maintains that temperature over time. Exemplarythermocouple securing devices 54 include a strap secured by snaps orhook and loop, a buckle, or a permanent sleeve or loop that thethermocouple is threaded through.

In some embodiments, the floor is connected to the walls with a seamwhere the seam is at least one inch off of the ground. The advantage ofhaving the seam slightly off of the ground is that it makes it lesslikely that pests will find the seam and nest in it.

When the enclosure is inflated, it preferably has an internal volume ofat least about 6, about 50, about 368, or about 800 cubic feet.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the enclosure is used in conjunctionwith a heating system 38. The heating system includes a first heatingelement 40, at least one thermocouple 52 attached to the thermocoupleplug 42 and electrically connected to the heater and configured to belocated inside of the inflated enclosure, and a programmable logiccontroller 44 electrically connected to the first heater and thethermocouple. It is understood that a PC board or other controller couldbe used instead of a programmable logic controller. The heating systemcan also include an internal fan 50. The heater may include a splitinlet duct that allows either fresh air or return air to be run throughthe heater. Alternatively, the duct may not be split, but may include amanifold that allows for either fresh or recirculated air to flow intothe enclosure. Using return air may be more energy efficient because theair is already hotter than ambient air. The heating system is connectedto the enclosure through the ducts 34 and 36, shown in FIG. 1. In someembodiments, duct 34 may include a manifold that opens and closes to theoutside. This manifold would allow fresh air to circulate into theenclosure. This is useful and can be open when inflating the enclosure.Once the enclosure is inflated, it may be beneficial to close the freshair manifold and allow only recirculated hot air to circulate. Thiswould avoid having to heat fresh air. Duct 36 may also include amanifold that opens and closes to the inside of the enclosure. Thismanifold may be closed while the enclosure is inflating. Once theenclosure is inflated, the manifold can be opened to allow hot air torecirculate from the enclosure to the heater and then back to theenclosure. In some embodiments, the heating system 38, instead of duct34, may include the manifold that opens to the outside. The heatingsystem also includes a fan 50 for blowing the hot air into the enclosureand for facilitating the return of air from inside of the enclosure. Thefan 50 is also responsible for inflating the enclosure. In someembodiments, the heater includes a second heating element 46 to maximizeheat output. If two heating elements are used, then the systempreferably works off of two different 15 amp circuits. In one exemplaryembodiment, the first heating element can be sized to accommodate amaximum 12 amp current draw on the circuit while powering the heatingelement and the fan internal to heater and the second heating element isslightly larger and accommodates the PLC while staying under the maximum12 amp current draw.

The heater can be equipped with various safety features. For example,the controller can be programmed to automatically start the shut downprocess or shut off completely if the temperature does not reach adesired temperature within a longer period of time, or if it reaches toohot of a temperature within a period of time. For example, if thetemperature does not reach a predetermined temperature such as 110° F.or 115° F. within a certain period of time such as 10 hours, 12 hours,or 16 hours, the heater can start decreasing the temperature by 1 degreeevery 6 minutes or 5 or 10 degrees every hour. In another example, ifthe temperature reaches a higher temperature such as 120° F., 125° F.,or 130° F. within an hour, 2 hours, or 4 hours, the controller can beprogrammed to start the process of decreasing the temperature by 1degree every 6 minutes or 5 or 10 degrees every hour. Also, in thisexample, the controller can be programmed to simply shut down the heateraltogether and allow the temperature to cool down on its own. Thecontroller can also be programmed to alert a user or operator that thetreatment was not successful. This would allow the user or operator tocorrect any problems with the system and run the cycle again, or providean alternative pest treatment. The controller can also be equipped toremotely alert the user or operator that there is a problem on the useror operator's mobile phone, pager, email, or text.

In addition to the enclosure and the heating system, the system canoptionally include an internal fan inside of the inflated enclosure.This fan helps circulate the air inside of the enclosure to reduce thelikelihood of cold spots inside of the enclosure. Eliminating cold spotsinside of the enclosure is important. If the temperature of any spotinside of the enclosure does not reach the minimum temperature needed tokill the pests, then that spot can become a source of contamination. Ifthe system includes an internal fan, the system preferably includesrelays and controls that determine if the internal fan inside of theenclosure was powered on and working throughout the heating cycle. Thesystem can also include a stand for supporting the article to betreated. The stand should be designed in a way to maximize the aircirculation around the article while minimizing cold spots in and aroundthe article and around the stand. In some embodiments, the stand isL-shaped. In some embodiments, the stand has a minimum of a 1-inchclearance between the floor and the article on the stand to ensureproper circulation. The stand is preferably made of a heat-conductingmaterial such as metal. This also helps eliminate cold spots.

Methods of Use

To set up the enclosure, the deflated enclosure is spread out and hookedup to the heater. The articles are placed inside of the deflatedenclosure. In some embodiments, the items are placed in the enclosure insuch a way that the item has at least a 1 inch space on all sidesbetween the article and the floor, walls, and other articles in theenclosure once the enclosure is set up or inflated. In some embodiments,the article has at least a 1-2 inch space around the article and thewalls, floors, or other articles of the assembled or inflated enclosure.Leaving space around the article is important to assure proper air flowaround the article. The heater is turned on and the manifold in theinlet duct 34 is opened to allow air to flow into the deflated enclosurein order to heat and inflate it. While the enclosure is inflating, themanifold in outlet duct 36 is closed. Once the enclosure is inflated,the manifold in the inlet duct 34 is closed, and the manifold in outletduct 36 is opened. This allows for the warm air inside of the enclosureto be recirculated.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method fortreating a suspected infested article. The method includes placing anarticle inside of an enclosure such as the one described above, sealingthe enclosure, and then adjusting the temperature inside of the sealedenclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature is graduallyincreased at a predetermined controlled rate, and then held at a peaktemperature for a predetermined period of time, and then graduallydecreased at a predetermined controlled rate. In an embodiment, thetemperature is increased from room temperature at a rate of from about10 to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit every hour or one degree every sixminutes. The temperature may be increased more slowly over a longerperiod of time. For example, the temperature can be ramped up at fromabout 1 to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit every hour. But, the temperatureshould not be ramped up too quickly for sensitive articles or thearticle may be damaged. The temperature is increased until thetemperature reaches a predetermined peak temperature. The various lifestages of bed bugs die at a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit.But, the articles being treated can include larger objects that haveinternal spaces that could be infested with pests (i.e., furniture,mattresses, and box springs). Therefore, it may be beneficial toincrease the temperature higher than the minimum needed to kill all lifestages of pests. Therefore, in some embodiments, the temperature insideof the enclosure is increased to at least about 115° F., at least about118° F., at least about 120° F., at least about 130° F., or at leastabout 180° F. and then held at that temperature for a predeterminedperiod of time. The predetermined temperature hold time will varydepending on the temperature, but the temperature can be held from about1 minute to about 10 hours, about 1 hour to about 5 hours, about 2 hoursto about 4 hours, or longer periods of time such as about 2 hours toabout 8 hours, or about 8 hours to about 24 hours. After thepredetermined period of time has elapsed, the temperature inside of theenclosure is gradually ramped down from the peak temperature to roomtemperature at a predetermined controlled rate. In an embodiment, thetemperature is decreased to room temperature at a rate of from about 10to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit every hour. As with the ramp up, thetemperature can be decreased more slowly or over a longer period oftime. Care should be taken not to decrease the temperature too quicklyfor sensitive articles and risk damaging the articles. Alternatively,the heater can be turned off and the temperature inside of the enclosurecan be allowed to return to room temperature on its own. This is mosteffective when the insulation on the enclosure helps the temperaturedecrease slowly enough, or where the articles inside of the enclosureare not sensitive to a rapid temperature decrease.

It is especially important to control the temperature increase anddecrease when treating articles that are made of multiple materials,such as furniture. Furniture often is made of multiple types of wood,composites, laminates, plastics, and adhesives. If the temperature ofthe furniture is increased or decreased too quickly, the differentmaterials may change temperature at different rates which could causethe piece of furniture to warp. An alternative embodiment of the presentdisclosure can be used with articles that are not as temperaturesensitive as furniture where the temperature is increased or decreasedas quickly as possible. This can be useful when treating non-sensitiveitems such as soft goods, bedding, curtains, towels, personal items, andclothes. In one preferred embodiment, the disclosed system is designedto have two modes of operation where a user can select a rapidtemperature increase and decrease if non-temperature-sensitive articlesare being treated or a controlled, slow temperature increase anddecrease if temperature sensitive articles are being treated.

In some embodiments, the temperature is automatically adjusted by theprogrammable logic controller on the heating system. In this method, theheating system has a heater. The heating system also has at least onethermocouple electrically connected to the heater and located inside ofthe inflated enclosure. The thermocouple measures the actual airtemperature inside of the enclosure (T_(actual)). The heating systemalso includes a programmable logic controller electrically connected tothe heater and the thermocouple. In some embodiments, the programmablelogic controller is programmed with predetermined temperature ramp ratecontrolled by a set point temperature (T_(setpoint)) and a targettemperature (T_(target)). In some embodiments, the controller can beprogrammed by a user or operator to vary the temperature ramp rate andhold time. An exemplary predetermined ramp rate may be 1 degreeFahrenheit every six minutes. It is understood that other ramp ratescould be used including partial degree increments. It is also understoodthat step increases could be used where the programmable logiccontroller increases the temperature by, for example, 5 or 10 degreesand then holds that temperature for a period of time such as 60 minutes.In one exemplary embodiment, the programmable logic controller increasesthe air temperature inside of the enclosure by increasing theT_(setpoint) one degree every six minutes until T_(target) is reached,comparing the T_(actual) to the T_(setpoint), and adjusting the heaterin response to the difference between T_(actual) and T_(setpoint). Theheater can be adjusted in several ways. For example, the heater can beadjusted by simply turning the heater on and off. The heater can also beadjusted by increasing or decreasing the power to the heater. And theheater can be adjusted by modifying a ratio of “on time” to “off time”.If T_(actual)<T_(setpoint), then the programmable logic controller canturn the heater on, increase the power to the heater, increase theamount of “on time,” or decrease the amount of “off time.” IfT_(actual)>T_(setpoint), then the programmable logic controller can turnthe heater off, decrease the power to the heater, decrease the amount of“on time,” or increase the amount of “off time.” OnceT_(setpoint)=T_(target), the programmable logic controller holds theT_(target) for a predetermined period of time (for example, for fourhours) and continues to compare the T_(actual) to the T_(setpoint)(which is now also T_(target)) and adjust the heat up or down tomaintain T_(target). After the temperature has been held for thepredetermined period of time, in some embodiments, the programmablelogic controller also controls the decrease in air temperature inside ofthe enclosure by decreasing the T_(setpoint) one degree every sixminutes until T_(actual)=the original T_(actual), which could be roomtemperature, comparing the T_(actual) to the T_(setpoint), and turningthe heater on or off in response to the difference between T_(actual)and T_(setpoint). T_(actual)<T_(setpoint), then the programmable logiccontroller can turn the heater on, increase the power to the heater,increase the amount of “on time,” or decrease the amount of “off time.”If T_(actual)>T_(setpoint), then the programmable logic controller canturn the heater off, decrease the power to the heater, decrease theamount of “on time,” or increase the amount of “off time.” This isgenerally shown in FIG. 10.

In an embodiment, the heating system can include a second thermocouplewhere a first thermocouple measures the air temperature inside of theenclosure and a second thermocouple measures the air temperature insideof an article, such as a piece of furniture or a mattress. In thisembodiment, the first thermocouple controls the temperature ramp ratecontrolled by a set point temperature, T_(setpoint), (both increase anddecrease) but the second thermocouple controls whether the temperatureinside of the enclosure has reached T_(target). Using two thermocouplesis a more sophisticated way to control the temperature increase anddecrease while ensuring that the air temperature inside of an articlemaintains a high enough temperature.

Exemplary articles to be treated include a mattress, a boxspring,bedding, nightstands, furniture, mirrors, pictures, light fixtures,window treatments, clothing, appliances, commercial fixtures,telephones, remote controls, alarm clocks and small electrical items,luggage, personal items, and pet bedding. The article can be located ina variety of places including a hotel, a house, an apartment ormulti-family complex, restaurants, an office building, a movie theater,a train, a bus, an airplane, a car, a truck, a retail store, a collegedormitory, a doctor's office, a veterinary clinic, a hospital, and anursing home. The article can also be a large article such asmanufacturing equipment, a bus, a car, a truck, an airplane, or a train.

In addition to using heat to kill pests, the methods disclosed hereincan be used in conjunction with pesticides and/or as part of a pesttreatment program.

The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to thefollowing examples. These examples are intended to be representative ofspecific embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended as limitingthe scope of the disclosure.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Hotel Room Heat Test

FIG. 7 shows temperature data collected during a treatment of an entirehotel room. The entire room was heated up and the temperature was takenat different locations within the room. The lethal temperature needed tokill bed bugs is 115° F. FIG. 7 shows that the ceiling of the room getsvery warm, but the floor is still below the lethal temperature, makingit a place for bed bugs to hide and survive the treatment. Lethaltemperatures may be achieved at the floor but large fans andsubstantially more electric power would be required which could becostly and not practical.

Example 2 Efficacy of High Temperatures on Bed Bug Adults and Eggs OverTime

Example 2 evaluated the temperature required to kill bed bug adults andeggs. The example evaluated three elevated temperatures (100° F., 115°F., and 130° F.) for mortality among bed bug adults and eggs whenexposed to heat for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours. Ten adultbed bugs and ten eggs were evaluated for each time and temperatureperiod. The eggs were observed at two weeks for hatch. The beg bugadults were evaluated immediately upon removal from the heatedcontainer. FIGS. 8A and 8B show the efficacy of high temperatures on bedbug adults and eggs over time. The figures show that that temperaturealone is not enough to be effective, but that a combination of hightemperatures and time is needed. FIGS. 8A and 8B show that maintaining115° F. for four hours is effective against eggs and adults. FIGS. 8Aand 8B also show that if the temperature is increased, the amount oftime can be decreased as 130° F. was effective against eggs and adultsin 30 minutes.

Example 3 Heat Trial Run on a Mattress

Example 3 determined the heat penetration into the interior of amattress. For this example, thermocouples were placed at variouslocations inside of an enclosure and inside of a mattress. FIG. 9 showsthat an internal air temperature inside of the enclosure of 123° F. ishigh enough to raise the temperature of the interior of the mattress tothe required 115° F. The air around the exterior and the air in theinterior of the article being treated must reach 115° F., otherwise, theinterior spaces of the article, particularly with large articles likefurniture and mattresses, can become a harborage for bed bugs.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the disclosed compositions and methods of use. Since manyembodiments of the disclosure can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of treating an article comprising: (A) placing anarticle inside of a flexible, enclosure, the enclosure comprising afloor, at least one wall, and a ceiling; (B) sealing the enclosure; (C)increasing the temperature inside of the sealed enclosure at a rate offrom about 1 to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit per hour until a temperatureof at least about 115° F. is reached, wherein the temperature inside ofthe sealed enclosure is increased by blowing hot air from a heater, andwherein the heating is monitored by at least one thermocouple locatedinside the enclosure and electrically connected to the heater; and (D)maintaining a temperature of at least about 115° F. for a predeterminedperiod of time, wherein the enclosure is constructed to be capable oftreating furniture, a mattress, a box spring, or a combination thereof.2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising decreasing thetemperature inside of the sealed enclosure at a rate of from about 1 toabout 15 degrees Fahrenheit per hour until the temperature reaches roomtemperature.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is selectedfrom the group consisting of a mattress, a box spring, a piece offurniture, personal belongings and combinations thereof.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises a support structure.5. The method of claim 4, wherein the support structure comprises aplurality of bars configured to be connected around the exterior of theinflated enclosure.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure ismade of an insulated material.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theenclosure is made of a flame-retardant material.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein the interior of the enclosure is a light-colored material. 9.A method of controlling the temperature inside of an enclosure as partof a method of treating an article, the method of controllingcomprising: increasing the temperature inside a flexible and inflatableenclosure by using a heating system comprising (i) a heater; (ii) ablower configured to blow hot air from the heater; (iii) at least onethermocouple electrically connected to the heater and located inside ofthe inflated enclosure and measuring temperature T_(actual); and (iv) acontroller electrically connected to the heater and the thermocouple andprogrammed with a first mode that increases and decreases thetemperature inside of the enclosure as quickly as possible and a secondmode comprising a predetermined temperature ramp rate, a temperature setpoint (T_(setpoint)), and a target temperature (T_(target)), thecontroller increasing the temperature inside of the enclosure by (a)increasing the T_(setpoint) one degree every six minutes untilT_(target) is reached; (b) comparing the T_(actual) to the T_(setpoint);and (c) turning the heater on or off in response to the differencebetween T_(actual) and T_(setpoint).
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe temperature inside the sealed enclosure is increased at a controlledrate of heating, and wherein the rate of heating is controlled by acontroller coupled with the at least one thermocouple, the controllerbeing programmed to maintain a predetermined ramp rate.
 11. The methodof claim 4, wherein the support structure is an external supportstructure.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure isinflatable.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure iscollapsible.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprisesone or more windows positioned on the at least one wall.
 15. The methodof claim 1, wherein at least one thermocouple is located in a cold spot.16. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a use state and anon-use state, and wherein the enclosure has a volume of at least 50cubic feet when the enclosure is in the use state.
 17. A method oftreating an article comprising: (A) placing an article inside of anenclosure, the enclosure comprising: (i) a floor, a ceiling, and aplurality of walls defining an interior space having a volume from about368 to about 800 cubic feet, wherein at least one wall comprises anopening mechanism comprising a zipped closure, a hook and loop closure,or both, allowing displacement of the wall to provide access to theinterior space, wherein at least some of the floor, ceiling, andplurality of walls are constructed of a flexible material having anR-value from about 1 to about 4, and wherein the flexible materialcomprises a light colored surface facing the interior space; (ii) anexternal frame, wherein the external frame attaches to the enclosure ata plurality of attachment points; and (iii) at least one windowpositioned on at least one of the plurality of walls, and a hook andloop sealing system outside of the window; (B) closing the enclosure;(C) increasing a temperature of the interior space by blowing hot airfrom one or more heaters until the temperature is at least about 115°F.; and (D) maintaining the temperature of at least about 115° F. for apredetermined period of time, wherein the enclosure is constructed to becapable of treating furniture, a mattress, a box spring, or acombination thereof.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pluralityof walls comprises four walls.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein theexternal frame attaches to the floor, ceiling, and plurality of walls.20. The method of claim 17, wherein the external frame comprises aplurality of bars.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the flexiblematerial comprises an insulated material.
 22. The method of claim 17,wherein the flexible material comprises a material selected from Norpac,Thinsulate, Thermal-Wrap, HeatShield, Nomex, Thermarest, Kevlar,insulated canvas, vinyl, polystyrene, space blanket, thermal cover, orother insulated material, and combinations thereof.
 23. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the floor comprises vinyl or canvas.
 24. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the R value of the flexible material is from about 1.4to about
 3. 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the R value of theflexible material is about
 2. 26. The method of claim 17, whereindisplacement of the wall creates an opening that facilitates placingfurniture, a mattress, a box spring, or a combination thereof inside theenclosure.
 27. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature isgradually increased.
 28. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperatureof the interior space is increased to about 120° F. or higher.
 29. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the heater is configured to not exceed amaximum temperature.
 30. The method of claim 17, wherein thepredetermined period of time is from about 1 minutes to about 8 hours.31. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period of time isfrom about 1 hour to about 4 hours.
 32. The method of claim 17, whereinthe predetermined period of time is from about 2 hours to about 4 hours.33. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature is increased usingmore than one heating element.
 34. The method of claim 17, wherein theone or more heating elements have a current draw of less than 15 amp.35. The method of claim 17, wherein the opening mechanism comprises azipped closure and a hook and loop closure, and wherein the hook andloop closure can be used to seal over the zipped closure.
 36. The methodof claim 17, wherein the enclosure comprises a stand placed in theinterior space for supporting the article to be treated.
 37. The methodof claim 36, wherein the stand is made of metal.
 38. The method of claim17, wherein the article is selected from a mattress, a box spring, apiece of furniture, bedding, personal belongings and combinationsthereof.
 39. The method of claim 17, further comprising placing aplurality of articles inside the enclosure.
 40. The method of claim 17,wherein articles are treated at a hotel, a house, an apartment ormulti-family complex, a restaurant, an office building, a movie theater,a train, a bus, an airplane, a car, a truck, a retail store, a collegedormitory, a doctor's office, a veterinary clinic, a hospital, or anursing home.
 41. The method of claim 17, wherein the article comprisesa vehicle or manufacturing equipment.
 42. A method of treating anarticle comprising: (A) placing an article inside of an enclosure, theenclosure comprising: (i) a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of wallsdefining an interior space, wherein at least one wall comprises anopening mechanism allowing at least partial displacement of the wall toprovide access to the interior space; and (ii) a frame capable of beingattached to the enclosure at a plurality of attachment points, whereinthe enclosure is collapsible; (B) closing the enclosure; (C) increasinga temperature of the interior space by blowing hot air from one or moreheaters until the temperature is at least about 115° F.; and (D)maintaining a temperature of at least about 115° F. for a predeterminedperiod of time, wherein the enclosure is constructed to be capable oftreating furniture, a mattress, a box spring, or a combination thereof.43. The method of claim 42, wherein the opening mechanism comprises azipped closure, a hook and loop closure, or both.
 44. The method ofclaim 42, wherein the flexible material has an R-value from about 0.5 toabout
 4. 45. The method of claim 42, wherein the temperature reaches 120to 130° F. within one hour.